Even when everybody involved believes assistance is needed, sometimes it is just simply rejected.

Why?

After talking to hundreds of families and assessing a variety of situations, I think there are only a few reasons why someone in need of assistance rejects it – Pride, Loss of Independence, and Money.

This is the first of three short emails about these reasons.

Pride

Many older adults come from a time when receiving assistance was frowned upon and you should pull yourself up from your bootstraps. Pride can result in those with hearing impairments refusing to consider hearing aids, those who are unsteady walking refusing to use a cane or walker, and the list can go on and on.

Sometimes, the refusal has less to do with the type of assistance and more to…